The overarching aim of the study is to characterize children and adults with ASDs, and compare them with age-matched controls in relation to their functioning in family, academic, employment, and social spheres. Subjects will be comprehensively assessed in multiple non-overlapping domains of functioning, using psychiatric, cognitive, and psychosocial instruments.

Healthy volunteers who have never been diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder in their lifetime.

Eligibility

Ages Eligible for Study:

6 Years to 60 Years (Child, Adult)

Genders Eligible for Study:

Both

Accepts Healthy Volunteers:

Yes

Sampling Method:

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Children and adults with ASDs.

Controls: healthy volunteers who have never been diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

Age: 6-60 years old

For subjects who have ASD: Meet DSM-IV PDD criteria based on clinical assessment including PDD module of structured interview

For subjects who have ASD: One parent/guardian available for interviews about each subject. If a parent or guardian is not available, a reliable adult reporter identified by the subject available for an interview

Full-scale IQ of above 80

Exclusion Criteria:

Major sensorimotor handicaps (e.g. deafness, blindness)

Any severely unstable psychiatric conditions including the following: psychosis, suicidality, bipolar disorder, substance use disorders (alcohol or drugs) that would require in-patient hospitalization.

Inadequate command of the English language.

Contacts and Locations

Choosing to participate in a study is an important personal decision. Talk with your doctor and family members or friends about deciding to join a study.
To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the Contacts provided below.
For general information, see Learn About Clinical Studies.

Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00801554

Locations

United States, Massachusetts

Massachusetts General Hospital

Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, 02138

Sponsors and Collaborators

Massachusetts General Hospital

Investigators

Principal Investigator:

Joseph Biederman, MD

Massachusetts General Hospital

More Information

Responsible Party:

Joseph Biederman, MD, Chief, Clinical and Research Program in Pediatric Psychopharmacology and Adult ADHD; Professor of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital